Breaking Through with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (Powered by MomsRising)

On the radio show this week, we cover how Musk, Trump, and Republican leadership actions are causing chaos and undermining our economy; we dive into what's at stake in immigration policy; hear about a program to build community and democracy; and find out how education is under attack along with hear ways to push back.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Derrick Johnson, NAACP, @NAACP; Beatriz Lopez, Immigration Hub, @USImmHub, @usimmhub.bsky.social; Joan Blades, Living Room Conversations, MomsRising, MoveOn, @LivingRoomConvo, @MoveOn,; Beatriz Beckford, MomsRising, @MomsRising, @momsrising.org.

On the radio show this week we discuss the single largest program for maternity care in the United States, Medicaid, and why we're fighting to protect it. Next, we dive into the many ways the Trump administration's "cost-cutting" measures will actually end up costing all of our families and our economy more in the long-run, from decimating the Department of Education and school safety to the terrible tariffs creating trade wars and massive economic instability. We also cover how, disproportionately, a lot of these adverse impacts will be felt by the very people who helped put Trump in office. Learn also how we break through the disinformation and help people see the truth.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Monifa Bandele, MomsRising, @MomsRising, @momsrising.org; Kelly Booz, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), @AFTunion, @aftunion.bsky.social; Sari Beth Rosenberg, Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, @saribethrose, @teachersunify.bsky.social; Jessica Peterson White, Content Bookstore, Main Street Alliance, @mainstreetweets

On the radio show this week we hear from teachers and parents about how they are fighting to protect the Department of Education and our students from Trump's threats, and how you can join the fight! Next, we discuss why Trump's cruel immigration policies are compounding the child care crisis by putting immigrant workers at risk, and a new report that provides real solutions for the industry and for Latina workers. Finally, we dive into the importance of your personal health care story when it comes to protecting Medicaid, which is currently on the chopping block to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Michelle Ringuette, American Federation of Teachers, @AFTunion, @aftunion.bsky.social, @ringuette.bsky.social; Beatriz Beckford, MomsRising, @MomsRising, @momsrising.org; Karla Castillo, National Women's Law Center, @nwlc, @nwlc.org; Jennifer Sullivan, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, @CenterOnBudget, @centeronbudget.bsky.social

On the radio show this week we dive into the power of policy at the state level, including paid family & medical leave and more, to "Trump-proof" your state. We hear the latest with immigration policy and the importance of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. We cover the negative impact of Trump's immigration and tariff policies on farmers and rural communities. We close the show discussing the attacks on Medicaid and why your voice is needed in the fight to save this essential health care.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Washington State Representative Liz Berry, @LizBerryWA; Juan Gomez, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), @CLASP_DC, @clasp.org; Juliette McAvoy, King Orchards, @kingorchards; Natasha Murphy, Health Policy Director, Center for American Progress, @amprog, @americanprogress.bsky.social

On the radio show this week we cover the ways in which Medicaid is under attack by Republican leaders in Congress, Trump, and Musk – and how to fight back; then we dive into the maternal health, and maternal mental health, crisis in America and what you can do; after that we cover how the work of federal workers makes America work and how you can stand up and speak out; and we close the show covering the power of women's purses, and wallets, and spending, along with tips for financial health.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Tory Cross, Caring Across Generations, @CaringAcrossGen @caringacrossgen.bsky.social; Monifa Bandele, MomsRising, @MomsRising @MamásConPoder @momsrising.bsky.social @mamasconpoder.bsky.social; Dawn Huckelbridge, @PaidLeaveforAll @paidleaveforall.bsky.social; Jacki Zehner, SheMoney, @JackiZehner

On the radio show this week we cover Trump's attack on federal workers, the critical services they provide and the disproportionate impact on women and people of color. We dive into how we can win at the state level, even in red states, with bipartisan support for issues like maternal health. We hear about Trump's dangerously unqualified pick for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, and why you should call your Senators to oppose her nomination. Finally, we discuss the negative impacts that trade wars and tariffs are having on Main Street America, and how you can help in your own community.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Judy Conti, National Employment Law Project, @nelpnews, @nelp.org; Tina Sherman, MomsRising, @MomsRising, @momsrising.org; Ruthanne Buck, SquadBuck; Richard Trent, Main Street Alliance, @mainstreetweets

On the radio show this week we dive into a snapshot of uplifting news between the headlines as we hear from a mom and small business owner who recently testified before Congress about how tariffs and trade wars hurt our families and our economy – and why childcare and a care infrastructure policies lift businesses and families alike. We also hear about a new campaign "Families Over Billionaires" and how you can get involved in making the tax code more fair. We then cover the rise of women's engagement and activism in politics. Finally, we discuss the need for white allies to step up and dismantle white supremacy and fight for racial and economic justice.

*Special guests include: Molly Neitzel, Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, @mollymoon; Chad Bolt, Families Over Billionaires, @TaxWarRoom, @TaxWarRoom.bsky.social; Rhonda Foxx, Persist, @PersistNetwork, @rhonnief.bsky.social; Erin Heaney, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), @showup4rj, @surj.bsky.social

On the radio show this week we dive into the confusion, harm, and chaos caused by Donald Trump's ridiculous Executive Orders and nominees, from a funding freeze that shut down Medicaid portals in all 50 states to the nomination of an unqualified, unfit, and utterly confused cabinet nominee in RFK Jr. We also learn about how the funding freeze has a situational impact on the already unstable child care sector, and how our advocacy helped reverse course – for now. After that, we cover parenting through this chaos and how to advocate for your child and yourself. Finally, we discuss the impact of Trump's executive orders and funding threats on the criminal justice system and racial justice programs, and where we can push back.

*Special guests include: Joi Chaney, Protect Our Care, @ProtectOurCare, @protectourcare.org, Nina Perez, MomsRising/MamásConPoder, @MomsRising, @momsrising.bsky.social, @MamásConPoder, @mamasconpoder.bsky.social; Antoiniqua Daniels, MomsRising; Liz Komar, The Sentencing Project, @sentencingproj

On the radio show this week we dive into the far-right's push to eradicate public schools and undermine sex education, and how you can get involved locally to stop this in your community. Next, we hear about Trump's unconstitutional actions infringing on our civil rights, from immigration to workplace policy, and how to fight back to protect our rights and our democracy. We also discuss how to take care of yourself in a tough and often toxic news environment.

*Special guests include: Jacqueline Friedman, EducateUS, @educateusaction.bsky.social; Mike Zamore, ACLU, @ACLU, @aclu.org; Monifa Bandele, MomsRising, @MomsRising, @momsrising.bsky.social; Emily Martin, National Women's Law Center, @nwlc, @nwlc.org

On the radio show this week we cover what's expected in the upcoming Congressional session and how you can help protect and advance core policies for women and families; how you can help protect the Department of Education (and democracy too); the ways in which healthcare is under attack and what you can do about it; and we close the show catching up with Donna and Ruth of MomsRising about new hope, new challenges, and tips for keeping going with power and joy. *Special guests include: Jocelyn Frye, National Partnership for Women and Families, @npwf; Randi Weingarten, AFT (American Federation of Teachers), @AFTunion; Joan Alker, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, @JoanAlker1 @georgetownccf; and Donna Norton and Ruth Martin, MomsRising/MamasConPoder, @MomsRising @MamásConPoder.